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Mouthwatering slow-cooked ribs served with tangy sauce on a white plate, perfect for a hearty meal.
StovetopComplexity

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos

This Slow Cooker Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos deliver 40g protein and 568 calories per serving — richer flavour from beef ribs without sacrificing macro efficiency. Batch-preps 12 servings hands-off in the slow cooker, stretching one cooking session into two weeks of lunches. Ideal for lifters building when you need consistent high-calorie, high-protein meals.

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Ingredients

12 servings
  • Vegetable oil(15g)
  • Beef Short Ribs, Bone-In(2722g)
  • Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • Yellow Onion
  • Garlic(15g)
  • BBQ Sauce(80g)
  • Lime Juice, Fresh(60g)
  • Vinegar, Apple Cider(30g)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Cumin, Ground(15g)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • Low Sodium Beef Broth(120g)
  • Tortilla, Corn, 6-Inch
  • Cilantro, Fresh(120g)
  • Yellow Onion
  • Avocado
  • Sour Cream(5g)

    Regular or fat-free both work. Fat-free is thinner but saves ~40 cal/serving.

Instructions

  1. 1Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Trim as much visible fat as possible from each rib (optional but helps lessen the fat content). Brown the ribs in batches until browned on both sides (about 3-4 minutes each side, per batch). Transfer the browned ribs to a 6 litre slow cooker.
  2. 2In a large jug, combine the chipotles, chipotle sauce, onion, garlic, barbecue sauce, lime juice, vinegar, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and broth together. Whisk well and pour over the ribs. Cover and cook for 6 hours on high or 10-12 hours on low, until the meat is falling off the bone. Allow the ribs to cool slightly in the sauce.
  3. 3Remove the ribs from the sauce. Remove any excess fat from the ribs; discard the bones and shred the meat. Using a metal spoon, skim the fat from the surface of the sauce in the slow cooker and discard. Mix the sauce into the meat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon the meat and sauce into warm corn tortillas and serve with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, the avocado slices and sour cream (or Crema).
  4. 4Once browned, place ribs in 2 large aluminium lined baking pan (or heavy based casserole pot). In a large jug, combine the chipotles, chipotle sauce, onion, garlic, barbecue sauce, lime juice, vinegar, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and broth together; cover baking pan and slow cook in the oven at 175°C | 350°F for 4 hours or until falling off the bone.
  5. 5Brown ribs in the cooker pot in batches until all browned. Transfer to a plate. Add the peppers, onion and garlic, and saute until onion is transparent. Add the rest of the ingredients (from barbecue sauce to broth), mix them well, then add the ribs back to the cooker pot. Cover and lock lid in place. Select High Pressure (or Meat / Poultry setting) and 50 minutes cook time. When cook time is complete, do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure (or follow your pressure cooker manufacturers instructions).

Nutrition — Per Serving

568

calories

40g

protein

43g

fat

Carbohydrates
5g
Saturated fat
18.4g
Sodium
266 mg
Dietary fiber
0.5g

12 servings per batch · ~265g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein does Slow Cooker Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos have per serving?

Each serving delivers 40g of protein and 568 calories with 43g fat and 5g carbs. This is a higher-calorie, fat-forward option that still maintains substantial protein per serving.

How long does Slow Cooker Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos take to prep?

Prep time is quick with the slow cooker handling most of the work, and you'll batch 12 servings in one session. That's nearly two weeks of ready-to-eat portions with minimal hands-on time.

Is Slow Cooker Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos good for fat loss?

At 568 calories and only 5g carbs per serving, this is a keto-friendly option for low-carb fat loss. The 40g protein and higher fat content will keep you satiated during a deficit.

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